Section analysis: London pages 24-40 By Madeleine Carlton Summary Thornhills are living in a little room off mermaid court, they were cold and starving. But luckily Mr. Middleton offered Thornhill the opportunity to become his apprentice as a waterman. Thornhill started working for Mr. Middleton and was motivated to be the ‘best apprentice, the strongest, quickest and cleverest.’ Thornhill received his licence and began learning the tricks of the trade. Thornhill then got into the routine of his new job.
Sal started to teach Thornhill his letters and by the end of winter he was able to write his own name, he was only sixteen and was the first one in his family who had ever gone so far.
After seven years of completing the apprentice Sal and Thornhill got married just before he turned 22. A year after they were wed, they had a healthy boy. This section in the book is a very joyful moment in Thornhill’s life; he received his first job, got married to Sal and had his first child. ‘He went about smiling at nothing’
Conflict with the Environment -The English winter is quite unkind to the Thornhills they find it hard to battle through this weather, with the coldness and the snow. It may be considered easy for those who could afford a warm place to live, but the Thornhills had no such luck. The conflict is shown through the rough standards of which the Thornhills were found living, including not being able to afford much food at all. Quotes ‘Mary was stitching away at her shrouds as if her life depended on it, her fingers to cold to work properly’- 24 ‘A time of being pinched hard’- 24 ‘The Thornhills were starving’- 24
-There was also conflict between Thornhill and the river; we can see this from the blisters that had formed on his hands and the strength of the tide. But Thornhill pushes through this conflict and overcomes the river and takes charge. Quotes ‘His palms were still puffed up from all the heaving rowing Mr Middleton had been making him do, but they were no longer bleeding.’- 27 ‘The tide was a tyrant.’ - 27
Social Conflict -Social conflict with the community as the kids John and Luke are stealing potatoes from stalls in the street. We can see that the family is struggling to afford their own food so in a result turn to stealing. This would bring up conflict with the social community. Quotes ‘John was trying to lift potatoes from Tyrrell’s stall with young Luke watching out.- 24
-Thornhill being from the lower social class felt conflict with the society as he starts to come into contact with customers who are a part of a higher social class- ‘the gentry’ who acted quite shallow and crude. Thornhill got scammed off one of his customers as he said he would be coming back to pay him, but did not. Another customer also seemed to bring up some conflict as his woman was exposing her leg in front of Thornhill too much for his own liking. Quotes ‘The gentry seemed another species’- 29 ‘Trusting gentry was not something he did twice.’- 29 ‘Don’t expose your leg to the boatman!’- 30
Pages 40-59
By Chloe Cations summary
It’s the beginning of winter and the river has frozen over. Lizzie has become sick as well as Mrs Middleton. Mrs Middleton isn’t getting any better and Mr Middleton starts to become sick as well and within a week he had passed away, soon after this Mrs Middleton dies. After Mr Middleton’s death the house and furniture had to be sold because they could no longer afford it and had to find a cheaper place to live. Thornhill’s friend Collarbone was sentenced to death after stealing Spanish brandy. They find out Sal is pregnant again. Thornhill started working for Mr Lucas on the rosemary as a lighter and steals things from time to time to help afford everything. Thornhill arranges for him and Rob to steal Brazil wood, however he is caught by Mr Lucas and Yates and Mr Lucas would not turn a blind eye so Thornhill was taken to jail.
Internal conflict - Thornhill was fighting with himself about stealing the brazil wood, but to him the problem was simple because fear does not pay the rent - ‘he knows, do not do this’
Conflict with the environment - The river has frozen over and there isn’t much work for Thornhill so they have to move to be able to afford a cheaper place for them to live
Pages 59-71 By Darcy Colless Summary Thornhill is facing court for the crime he has committed. He is found guilty by the court and is sentenced to be hung. Sal is still trying to get him out of this situation and proposes that he write a letter to Captain Watson. A crippled man writes a very well structured letter that appears as if Thornhill had wrote it himself. The letter is received and a letter back stating that they are pardoning him and that he will live but there is a new problem. He must be convicted to New South Wales to live. Thornhill is worried about his wife when they ask her name, he believes she will remain in England and he not is able to see her and the new child ever again. As they continue to read on through the letter it is revealed that she will be accompanying him in Australia and prayed for as if being sent to jail herself.
Inner conflict Thornhill faces inner conflict as he worries about those he will leave behind if he were to die. Also about how and if he will ever be able to get out of being judged guilty. Having to rely on the help of Sal and not be able to figure a way out himself. Quotes 'It is all a lie, its all for the reward' pg60 'I am as innocent as the child unborn' pg61
Social conflict Court hearing, Thornhill being found guilty with the testimony from Mr Lucas. Judges believing Lucas even though he did not see Thornhill but could only presume it was him because he believed it to be Thornhills voice. Quotes 'I identified him by his voice repeatedly before' pg63 'It was impossible but i must know him from his speaking to me.' pg65
By Madeleine Carlton
Summary
Thornhills are living in a little room off mermaid court, they were cold and starving. But luckily Mr. Middleton offered Thornhill the opportunity to become his apprentice as a waterman. Thornhill started working for Mr. Middleton and was motivated to be the ‘best apprentice, the strongest, quickest and cleverest.’ Thornhill received his licence and began learning the tricks of the trade. Thornhill then got into the routine of his new job.
Sal started to teach Thornhill his letters and by the end of winter he was able to write his own name, he was only sixteen and was the first one in his family who had ever gone so far.
After seven years of completing the apprentice Sal and Thornhill got married just before he turned 22. A year after they were wed, they had a healthy boy. This section in the book is a very joyful moment in Thornhill’s life; he received his first job, got married to Sal and had his first child. ‘He went about smiling at nothing’
Conflict with the Environment
-The English winter is quite unkind to the Thornhills they find it hard to battle through this weather, with the coldness and the snow. It may be considered easy for those who could afford a warm place to live, but the Thornhills had no such luck. The conflict is shown through the rough standards of which the Thornhills were found living, including not being able to afford much food at all.
Quotes
‘Mary was stitching away at her shrouds as if her life depended on it, her fingers to cold to work properly’- 24
‘A time of being pinched hard’- 24
‘The Thornhills were starving’- 24
-There was also conflict between Thornhill and the river; we can see this from the blisters that had formed on his hands and the strength of the tide. But Thornhill pushes through this conflict and overcomes the river and takes charge.
Quotes
‘His palms were still puffed up from all the heaving rowing Mr Middleton had been making him do, but they were no longer bleeding.’- 27
‘The tide was a tyrant.’ - 27
Social Conflict
-Social conflict with the community as the kids John and Luke are stealing potatoes from stalls in the street. We can see that the family is struggling to afford their own food so in a result turn to stealing. This would bring up conflict with the social community.
Quotes
‘John was trying to lift potatoes from Tyrrell’s stall with young Luke watching out.- 24
-Thornhill being from the lower social class felt conflict with the society as he starts to come into contact with customers who are a part of a higher social class- ‘the gentry’ who acted quite shallow and crude. Thornhill got scammed off one of his customers as he said he would be coming back to pay him, but did not. Another customer also seemed to bring up some conflict as his woman was exposing her leg in front of Thornhill too much for his own liking.
Quotes
‘The gentry seemed another species’- 29
‘Trusting gentry was not something he did twice.’- 29
‘Don’t expose your leg to the boatman!’- 30
Pages 40-59
By Chloe Cations
summary
It’s the beginning of winter and the river has frozen over. Lizzie has become sick as well as Mrs Middleton. Mrs Middleton isn’t getting any better and Mr Middleton starts to become sick as well and within a week he had passed away, soon after this Mrs Middleton dies. After Mr Middleton’s death the house and furniture had to be sold because they could no longer afford it and had to find a cheaper place to live. Thornhill’s friend Collarbone was sentenced to death after stealing Spanish brandy. They find out Sal is pregnant again. Thornhill started working for Mr Lucas on the rosemary as a lighter and steals things from time to time to help afford everything. Thornhill arranges for him and Rob to steal Brazil wood, however he is caught by Mr Lucas and Yates and Mr Lucas would not turn a blind eye so Thornhill was taken to jail.
Internal conflict
- Thornhill was fighting with himself about stealing the brazil wood, but to him the problem was simple because fear does not pay the rent
- ‘he knows, do not do this’
Conflict with the environment
- The river has frozen over and there isn’t much work for Thornhill so they have to move to be able to afford a cheaper place for them to live
Pages 59-71
By Darcy Colless
Summary
Thornhill is facing court for the crime he has committed. He is found guilty by the court and is sentenced to be hung. Sal is still trying to get him out of this situation and proposes that he write a letter to Captain Watson. A crippled man writes a very well structured letter that appears as if Thornhill had wrote it himself. The letter is received and a letter back stating that they are pardoning him and that he will live but there is a new problem. He must be convicted to New South Wales to live. Thornhill is worried about his wife when they ask her name, he believes she will remain in England and he not is able to see her and the new child ever again. As they continue to read on through the letter it is revealed that she will be accompanying him in Australia and prayed for as if being sent to jail herself.
Inner conflict
Thornhill faces inner conflict as he worries about those he will leave behind if he were to die. Also about how and if he will ever be able to get out of being judged guilty. Having to rely on the help of Sal and not be able to figure a way out himself.
Quotes
'It is all a lie, its all for the reward' pg60
'I am as innocent as the child unborn' pg61
Social conflict
Court hearing, Thornhill being found guilty with the testimony from Mr Lucas. Judges believing Lucas even though he did not see Thornhill but could only presume it was him because he believed it to be Thornhills voice.
Quotes
'I identified him by his voice repeatedly before' pg63
'It was impossible but i must know him from his speaking to me.' pg65